Cruze Turbo Diesel

Visiting my local Chevy dealer today getting my wifes HHR serviced I got a chance to get an indepth look, under the hood and on the service rack of a new Chevy Cruise Turbo Diesel that was brought in by a regional rep. to give Chevy dealers a close look at the car.

After introducing myself and letting him know we were starting our search for a vehicle to replace the wifes HHR the rep was nice enough to take me on a test drive and let me put a few miles on the car myself.

For such a small engine the Cruise TBD has good launch and pickup at speed, you actually get a small kick in the seat when the turbo increases boost while driving at hwy speeds then speeding up more.

Launch from a standing start wasnt "tire blistering race car" but it can produce tire spin and I believe drivers a little more agressive habits (meaning someone driving without a Chevy rep sitting next to you giving you odd looks) could get some tire smoking starts.

One of the more positive aspects of the vehicle is the fact that the Turbo and injectors are an existing product that have the posibility to be upgraded, now all you need is a better intake and exhaust and this little car might become a decent performer with capability of getting 40+ mpg.

I'm not sure why its mostly been vw doing the tdi (even though they stopped for a while). Great gas mileage enough get up and go for a car. Small diesels should be more common IMHO. You can also get good upgrades out of a diesel .

Yep thats my thoughts too. Itd be my wifes car so I wouldnt get to drive it much but Im thinking a well maintained little Diesel will last a long time, she only has 50k miles on here 5 yr old HHR so thats 10k a yr, at that mileage a well maintanid Diesel could be around a long time.

I would love to see more small cars with a diesel. When I graduated high school in 1997 I had a friend who's dad work as an Ford executive. At the time they were testing out diesels in the tempo. they did their testing and my friends dad had a chance to buy one of them. So he did. My friend would have to fill up once every 3 weeks and last I had heard he had over 300,000 miles on it with no major repairs done. It was crazy pulling up next to this thing. It sounded like crap. The first time I heard it I asked, "Whats wrong with your car"? He looked at me and laughed and said, "nothing it is a diesel". Everyone that saw it was shocked at the time.

TB- According to folks at a mpg forum I frequent-they expect that Diesel Cruise to deliver OVER 50 mpg at 65 mph by just putting on the cc and pointing it.
I think it is EPA hy 46mpg??
Usually diesels EASILY beat EPA hy -by lot.
His guess-Wayne=xcel on that forum is 55mpg at a steady 60 mph.
I always pester him for steady 60 mph FE numbers so I can separate out his technique from what the car will inherently do.
There are a fair number of diesel nuts on that forum-truck and car diesel nuts-and they are really looking forward to the diesel Cruise.
Like you mentioned the engine isn't new- it is a tried and true GM Europe motor-really reliable-
The price-more or less the same $26000 or so list as a TD VW- is high but it is expected to be very reliable-and comes kinda loaded-worlds higher trim than a base Cruise.
And it come with GOOD QC- not pitiful VW quality control and overpriced VW dealer repair costs.
Yeah-you could do worse
but the betting is in a year or so they will be discounted because folks won't pay VW money for a small Chevy-no matter how loaded.
We'll see.
I'll let you know what numbers Wayne gets when he tests one-he gets to do the journalist tests-keeps it a couple of days etc
Charlie
PS He said it was very quiet-nothing like 1980 diesel cars-clatter clatter sooty smoke and stench-quick too just as you say-8.5 0-60 I think is GMs claim

Several months ago I read a very small article in an automotive magazine about the diesel-powered Cruze. I know the Cruze is getting good reviews and and small diesel engines are pretty stout. It seemed like a combo that makes sense. I am quite interested in one and will definitely consider one (if they are available) around Q2 of next year when I am ready to buy a new car.

Right-good reviews.and compared to its only competition-various VW TDI- it comes off well
Better Hy EPA than the VW-
slightly lower -27mpg I think-city EPA
but quicker-
most importantly -it ISN'T A VW with VWs not great QC (which folks claim has improved)
Now VW TDI nuts-are more or less certifiable-like many truck Diesel nuts.
I'm SOUR GRAPES in respect to small TD in cars because
1)spark gasoline motors are sooooo good now-80% of TD mpg
2)Gasoline motored cars are at least $5000 cheaper to buy-now MSRP is only $2500 or so more-but you can never buy a base car-cheapskate like me,base is it- with a TD-so it is always $5000
3) 30 to 70 cent diesel fuel premium last 10 years-unlikely to change
4) Fuel injection-fuel systems-seem kinda delicate on TDs of all types-just ask 2004 6.0 Ford owners
5) The Prius-for slightly less $$- beats all TD cars in FE- by a LOT-maybe 20% or more
6) Mainly it is SOUR GRAPES-since I can't buy one in the next few years. I actually would love to own a TD Cruise-

but forget TDI VW- my in with my wife-in 1980-was trying to fix her POS fastback VW suitcase engine 4 cyl with early EFI- I was unsuccessful fixing the VW- SOB caught fire WHILE we were driving it- but married wife- but still prejudiced against VW!!

Yes I would love a TD Cruise with that TD 250 ft lbs(not actually sure on torque but probably plenty)
our 2006 Prius- great mpg-very reliable-cheap to maintain-BUT BORING- like a toaster!! Great transportation appliance-but a really vanilla car!!
Charlie

Im thinking the TD Cruze is gonna be somewhat vanilla too, but Im more interested in something thatll get good mpg and last a long time, yea it wont attract the chicks or do impressive burn outs but if I can get many years of trouble free driving with economy Im in. Besides itll be for the wife and she really doesnt care what she drives as long as it doesnt break down on her.

TD
The diesel nuts on the mpg forum-seem to think the Cruise will feel somewhat sporty with the quick 8.5 0-60.
they are looking forward to it.
Yes I am past being interested in attracting chicks and burnouts- married 62 yo-forget it.
I just want vehicles to do what you want-cheap to own-don't break much-and DON'T leave me on the side of the road